Bank on a revival in Kingscourt

Major plans for the regeneration of Kingscourt including the refurbishment of two former bank premises into a library and remote working hub, as well as a new public car park, are progressing with the planning application currently on public display.

The derelict former National Irish Bank premises which had become an eyesore in the town, is to be transformed into a long campaigned for library, while the Bank of Ireland building, which closed in October 2021 will become a digital hub with community workspace.

According to the part eight planning application, which is the planning process for local authority's own developments, the project will include the refurbishment, adaptation and extension of the former National Irish Bank building on Market Square as a new library and part-demolition of existing outbuilding. It also includes refurbishment works to the formerly Bank of Ireland building on Main Street, a protected structure, which is to be adapted to a new remote working hub, with the rear extension to be demolished and replaced with a new extension for accessibility.

Also part of the plans is the reconfiguration of the former Shekleton’s site including the partial demolition of the overhanging room above the entrance gate, demolition of outbuildings located to the rear of the main building and demolition of former salon building to the north of Shekleton’s to accommodate a new access road from Main Street to proposed off-street car parking area to accommodate 126 cars.

The road layout and car parking are to be reconfigured with public realm enhancements to the Main Street between Market Square and Kells Road Roundabout, and enhancements to Market Square. A new segregated cycleway along the Main Street is also part of the plan.

A new access road from Rocks Road to the proposed off-street car parking area is planned incorporating repairs to existing boundary walls, and junction improvements and traffic calming measures on Rocks Road and St Mary’s Road to facilitate new access to the off-street parking area.

Public realm enhancements including new tree planting, greening, paving, street furniture, sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDs), street lighting, undergrounding of overhead cables, and associated works and services to Main Street, Market Square, Rocks Road and proposed off-street car parking area. All works are within the Kingscourt Architectural Conservation Area (ACA) and a Heritage Statement and Architectural Impact Assessment statement formed part of the application.